Mechanism for conveying and stacking food products



E. E. LAWRENCE AND K. n. LOOSE. MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING FOOD PRODUCTS.

APPLICA'HON FILED SEPT. 20. I920.

3 TH 2 m M w E m a P w H H H I I E. E. LAWRENCE AND K. D. LOOSE.

MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING AND STACKLNG Foop PRODUCTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. L920.

\mw mm m mm. ML m m% m M Wm m w W mm Q a W mm WW MW .L. M

-- E L. E W, I .w m M W m am. a E L a D m LLL LL LLL L L .1 LL LL LL LL L l a aw E. E. LAWRENCE AND K. D. LOOSE.

MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING FOOD PRODUCTS.

APPLlCATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1920.

Patented Oct. 24, 1922..

6 SHEETSSHEET 3- E. E. LAWRENCE AND K. D. LOOSE. MECHANISM'FOR CONVEYING AND SITACKING FOOD PRODUCTS.

7 APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 20, I920. 1A3,51L 1.

Patented 000. 24,1022;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' E. E. LAWRENCE AND K. n. LOOSE.

MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING FOOD PRODUCTS.

1 %3 ILII.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. P920.

IPamntedI Oct. 24, 1922.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' MI I I I I E. E. LAWRENCE AND K. D. LOOSE. MECHANISM FOR ,CONVEYING AND STACKlNG F000 PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 20, 1920.

Emma! 0011. 24, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

EDWARD E. Lilli ERENCE, 0F JAMAICA, AND KENNETH D. LOC'SE, OF NEW YORK, N. "55.,

ASSIGNORS '10 LOOSE WILES DURATION OF Nllil'W YORK.

BISCUIT COMPAN'EZ',

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- MEGHANISM FOR CONVEYING STACKING FOOD PRODUCTS.

Application filed September 20, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, Enwann E. Lana RENC-E and KENNETH D. liooss, citizens of the United States, and residents respectively, of Jamaica and New York, in the counties, respectively, of Queens and New York, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Mechanism for Conveyng and Stacking Food Products, of which the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, l ke characters on the drawings representing like parts. y

This invention relatcs to mechanism for conveying "and stacking articles, the disclosed example of which is food products.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, we have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side el-evat' onbut partially in vertical longitudinal section of one form of mechanism embodying the invention:

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section upon a larger scale of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view mainlyin transverse section upon the line 3-;43 of F 2.

Fig. 4: is a vertical transverse section upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking toward the right in said figure;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion ofthe mechanism for driving; the stacking spirals;

Fig. 6 is a detail partially in elevation and partially in section of one part .of the iech anisin Fig. 7 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section of the means for driving one of the conveying rolls;

F in. 8 represents inside elevation and in vertcal section one of the stacking spirals;

Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive represent in side elevation partition members forming; walls of the chutes;

l ig. is a perspective view of one of the so-called fiappers constituting the yielding front wall of the chutes;

Figs. M and 15 are side elevations from opposite sides of the machine showing a slightly modified form of means for receiving and feeding the articles;

Fig. 16 is a transverse section upon the Serial No. 41 1,403.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of one form of means for varying the speed at which the stacked articles are caused to travel; and

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the construction shown inFig. 17.

l ve will disclose our invention with reference to the conveying and stacking of food products, without, however, limiting our invention thereto.

It has heretofore been proposed to arrange or stack crackers for pack ng, but so far" as we are aware no satisfactoryapparatus for this purpose has been placed upon the market, although heretofore numerous attempts have been made to provide apparatus for this purpose. The desirability of satisfactory apparatus for this purpose is manifest since crackers and like food products are now packed in small cartons or re-' ceptacles usually of the width and depth of a cracker and of a length sufficient to receive or accommodate a stack of substantial length. In satisfactorily stacking crackers or like food products. it they all face the same way, that is that they be face to back and that the stacks or rows of the assembled crackers be accurately arranged and in face to back relation so that a sufficient number to constitute a stack to fill a single carton may be quickly taken by an operator or by su'table mechanism from p a row in the mechanism and inserted with a minimum loss of time into the carton or receptacle.

' The mechanism herein disclosed. constitutes the preferred embodiment of the 'nvention and accomplishes the desired results above indicated. Referring more-particularly to the drawings, it to be noted that the crackers or other food products fmay be conveyed in any suitable manner to the actual staok nn' or assembling part of the apparatus. Herein we have indicated one form or ty e of mechanism for this purpose and which in practice has been found acceptablqbut the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the employment of such typeof conveying mechanism, and in another co-pending application we have set forth another type of mechanism for the purpose. a 1 y i In Figs. 1 and 4 we have indicated at l, 2, 3 ,a framing preferably in thenature of is important t at 2 I LAY-53,511

an elongated table like structure adapted to support certain conveyor chains indicated in part at 4t, 5 as sugported by or passing about rolls 6. T; 8, 9 supported upon the framing and dri en if desired in any suitable manner. alt 10 we have indicated pans carried by the u per run of the belt 1- and conveying the crackers or other tood products from any suitable point where the pans have been filled w th crackers arranged in a plurality of transverse rows, the crackers all facing either up or down. At 11 we have indicated the empty pans or trays upon the chains 5 as l eing conveyed back, to the place of filling. I

The stacking or assemblingmechanism together with the conveying means directly associated therewith is preferably mounted in a suitable framework herein indicated generally at 12, 13, 1 1, 15 in Fig. 1, wherein are,

shown the upright side walls 12, 13 wherein the mechanism is mounted and a part of the base 1 1, 15, which desirably is secured in any suitable manner to the framing 1, 2, 3 beneath it, as by suitable bolts 16, 17, shown in Fig. 4:.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. a roll 18 is mounted in suitable hearings in the side frames 12, 13 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 19, driven by a sprocket chain 20 in a manner hereinafter more particularly referred to. Passing about the roll 18 is an apron 21 which as shown is inclined down ward to and passes about a smaller roll 22 supported in hearings in suitable uprights 23 capable of lJGlHQ adjusted to provide proper tautness of the belt 21. For this purpose the bearings, one of which is indicated at 241 in Fig. 6 is adapted to be adjusted by threaded bolts 25, 26, one for each bearing.

Beneath the upper run of the belt 21 there is preferably provided a support 27 inclined to conform to the slope of the belt 1.

Desirably the crackers or the like are dischar red from the pans 10 onto the upper run of the belt 21 in the following manner. is

clearly indicated in Fig. 1, the sides. 12, 13 extend above the upper run of said belt.

Upon the inner faces of said sides and desirably close to the upper run of said belt but out of contact therewith are provided corresponding angle irons 28 secured by screws 29. or otherwise and in suchmanner as toafl'ord inclined ledges parallel with the upper run of the belt and so located that an op ator or two operators standing one at either sideof the apparatus may support manually a filled pan 30 in substantially the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig, 1 with its lower transverse edge supported upon said ledges and hence close to and above the upper run of the belt 21. The pan so supported is given a quick jerk to the right viewing Fig. 1, with the result that the crackers supported thereon fall from the pan onto the apron all the same side up and in substantially the same relative positions that they occupy upon the pan 80.

In this or in any other suitable manner the crackers or the like are transferred to th apron 21 or endless belt and are thereby run veyed all with their faces up or down to the succeeding part of the lllQCll-llllifilll, the disclosed embodiment of which will now he do scribed. Mounted in suitable llGf11lll 5 are two rolls 31, 32 clearly indicated in l 'i 2 :u; receiving thereabout an endless apron or b lt 33 beneath the upper run of which is a support 3 1-. The roll 31 may be directly sup ported in hearings in the side frame but herein the roll 32 is represented as received at its ends in slots 35 permittin. idjustment of the bearings, one of which is i udicated at- 36 and which may be similar to the bearing 24, shown in Fig. 6. In this case we have represented a take-up box 3? receiving a bolt 38 threaded throughout the greater part of its length but uuthroadml where it is supported in said casing: and provided with a knurled head 30 permitliiul rotation of the bolt and consequent adjustment of the bearing 36. Upon an integral arm 10 of said castingat each side of the apparatus, there is a suitable bearing rcriviuo; the roll 18 and fast with said roll 15 is thlsprocket gear 19 driven as stated hv thr sprocket chain 20. A

Any suitable means may be provided to drive the sprocket chain 20 Herein for the purpose and to drive the other parts of the apparatus, there is provided an OlOPiZl K' or other motor 411 shown in Fig. l and h a vinea sprocket 42 upon the sha ft 13 roceivin; u ud driving a sprocket chain 471 that imparts votative movement to the sprocket 1-5 indicat d also in Fig. 7 and fast upon the slml'l -19 mounted in suitable bearings transversely of the frame and employed for drivinu the stacking; spirals as hereinafter referred to. Upon the shaft 118 is fast a smaller 33cm" .9 meshing with agear upon a stud she t; :31 and having a gear 52 meshiugii' ith a new fill upon the roll 31 or rather upon the shaf 54 fast with said roll and carrying: also 1| gear 55 that receives and drives the -YDIIHZl-Xl. chain 20 as indicated most clearly in lbp l. The crackers or other food products indi cated at 56 in Fig: ff. are delivered fl on; the apron or belt 2] onto the apron or elt and if desired an intermediate slide or Cl flector 57 may be provided as there show-,1.

lVhile any suitable means may he (Illploycd to convey the crackers or the like to the stacking; mechanism proper, l pre erably employ at least two parts or incinhers traveling at surcessivcly increased speed, so as to spread out the crackers, which may be too closely positioned upon the first traveling part or member, such as the belt 21, and sometimes are even superposed lllii .llll

lll

or apron 33ove1' the charged therefrom into the stacknip; mechaa major or substantial vertical portion 61., a succeeding" ing' series of crackers and to form the si thereon. I desirably drive the second part or member, such as the beltor apron 33, at tWJCQiZllG speed of thebelt or apronQil. It

is desirable ,that the crackers or the 5 like reach the discl'larging means, here "shown as chutes, in a single depth only, tllOl lgl'l they may be handled in depths of two or three.

Better results are obtained however by handling them in single depth.

The crackers 56 are roll 31and are dis nisrn proper in a manner now to be disclosed. i

indicated most clearly in Fig. 3 there are preferably provided a number of chan- .nels,1n:the present instance slxteern represented in cross sectionat 58 in 8 as of V form lILCI'OSS section, desirably,formed oi sheet metal struck up or bent into proper shape and wherein the crackers or other food products are positioned upon edge and fed along.

In order 'to deposit the crackers in edgewise condition in the several channels.

we preferably provide a corresponding; nuinber of chutes herein represented as composed of a backing member 58 which prefer-- ablyextends the full WlClEhOf the series of chutes or channels and has an upper vertical portion 59, a forwardly extending and preferably curved portion 60, a succeeding; forwardly extending; and preferably curved portion 62 and a vertical portion 63, whichas shown in Fig. 2 extends downwardly into close proximity to: the series of stack ng spirals indicated at 64 in the several figures and corresponding in number to the number of chutes and to the number of chain N In order to separate the several descendwalls of the chutes there are provided part1 tions positioned edgewise to the back ng 58 @HClWhlCll desirably are of the shape and size respectively indicated at 65, 66 67 and 68 in Figs. 9, 10, 1]. and 12, It is to he noted that in the disclosed embodiment of the invention there are provided one of the partitions 68, two of the partitions six of the partitions 67 and eight of the partions 66, these being arranged as indicated in wherein they are shown as alternating in height for the purpose of preventing binding, clogging; or wedp 'ing of the crackers in'two adj acentchutes as would likely occur it the lateral walls ofadj acent chutes were of the sameheigrht. ltis desirable and. important (thou n h the lH'l GI'F 131011 is not restr cted thereto) ers or other food productsloe that the oracle stantially vertically in their descent or in part thereof, rather than atanrincline sons to insure the falling thereof to "one side or the other of any conveyed by the belt pos tioned sub- "l partition We have ascertained through errtcrnled experimentation that it the (flZlCn' ersoi; other food rodncts strke the top or a partition while descendinnat an incline, they a a apt to lodge there y View ing-ll ip s. 9 and it will be seen that the partitions 65 and 68 areprovidedwith holes 6th 70 whereinare received rods '21, and '23 arranged transversely otthe chute at successively lower levels as indicated most Clearly in Fig. 2.

Preferably we provides yielding closure for the front face oil each chute constituting a yielding resistance to the crackers at the outer :tacesot the several chutes so as to cause the crackers to descend cdg'ewise and Without undue velocity'and in such manner that they will he delivered ed wise to the stacking spirals, and preferably individually to each spiral. a a To-this end upon theseveral rods ll, 73 there are supported a series of so called fiappers ltfl'li and Y6 shown in in. positio n one the flappers76 being; shown in perspective 1 l3. These flappers ,ly sheet Inetaland are I lint Y may readily be hm upon the rods i, "k inclcated in The said flappers areso shaped that they normally or cupy the positions shown inQl: 2 and desirably each. of the lowermost ilappers 76 is provided with a small weight 78 so, tlered or otherw'se secured thereto asto cause said lowermost iia opers to press with somev-rhat more resistance against the backing as A it the part 63 thereof. a

Viev Fig. F2 it will be observed that a crac or or other food product 56 dis-- charged over the rollt -from the apron e upp ost flapper/[4t and the upper part 59 'ot the backing 58" in a vertical position. The downward movement of each cracker is substantially uninterrupted and continuous, but the fall thereof broken or e: d by the several fiapp'ers 741-,

75, "i6 and by tending); porti cessive action the several series oi? flappers the crackers are safely delivered in an edrrewise vertical condition to the stackine' L.) spiral: nd des rably sin ly. l. he construction feature oi th to he ery e l l hi le v ll ed for recei v in e an co ewise condition in and alone" the channels 58 we preterably employ staclc i; an .als 64; which for one embodiment of it-ion are represented one haltsize 8. The said spirals may be driven in any thi purpose the shaft etlis provided with a $613185 of spaced reiter gears '39 shown most an open loop so dew bed constioites an important the bends or forwardly es- 60 62 510 that by the sucsuitable nannerand desirably for HIGELHS.

clearly in 5 as meshing with like miter gears 80 upon short shafts 81, each of which at its forward end has fast thereon a disk or head 82. to which the spiral 64 is preferably detachably secured. to permit removal for any suitable purpose, as for substituting a spiral of a. different size for use with a difli'erent size of cracker or other food prodnot. Tothis end, each spiral 6d is here shown as coiled at its basal end about a cylindrical member 83 provided with split pins 84 adapted to be tightly but detachably received in holes or sockets 85 in the disk or head 82. In this manner each spiral is rendered readily detachable from its drivlng If desirechand as shown at 85',

' one or more pins may be driven into the disk or head 82 so as to pass through one or all of the holes or sockets just within the edge thereof, and past which a neck portion 85" of the pin or pins 84 pass; The head or end of each pin 8 1 yields because of the split,

so as to permit the renewal of the head or disk. The pins 85 may also serve to secure the disk or head to its shaft.

The channels 58 are desirably of very considerable length so that a series of operators may stand at either side of the apparatus and readily reach over and take from the various channels enough crackers 56 in stacked or face to back relation to fill a single carton, or the crackers may be removed mechanically in any suitable manner.

To this end thechannels 58 are open at the top and desirably the stacking spirals 64L operate at the bottom of the chutes in an uncovered part of the structure, so that there is no liability of the crackers clogging, choking or wed ging as they are fed forward.

It will be observed that the lowermost parts 68 of the backing 58' delivers the crackers 56 directly to the basal spire of the stacking spirals 6% so that they are invariably delivered thereto in an edgewise condition, after passing the lowermost flappers 76. y

In Figuresll, 15 and 16 we have shown a modified construction of means for receiving and feeding the crackers in edgewise position. from the stacking spirals or other means receiving the crackers from the chutes.

In accordance with this form of the inventionjwe provide a belt, apron or other suitable traveling means onto which the said spirals deliver the crackers, and provide suitable partitions extending longitudinally of the belt or other conveyor and forming therewith suitable channels.

Referring more particularly to said Figures 14;, 15 and 16, the belt or apron is represented at 86 as passing about suitable rolls 87, 88 supported in the frame, the roll 88 being driven in a forward direction so as to drive the belt in the direction of the arrow as represented in Figure 14-. Over the upper run of the belt are provided preferably inverted V-shaped longitudinally extending partitions 89 cooperating with the upper run of the belt 80 to constitute channels receiving the crackers 56. The belt or apron 86 may be driven in any suitable manner. For that purpose the shaft of the roll 88 is provided with a sprocket 89 indicated in Figure 15, driven by a sprocket chain 90 passing: about a sprocket 91 on a suitable shaft 92. desirably mounted in hearings in the two opposite take-up boxes 37', 37'. In order to drive the shaft 92 in the proper dircrmion any suitable means may be provided and herein we have represented a pinion 98 meshing with a suitable gear 94 upon a sh i'lesirably mounted in said take-up boxes 37 and itself driven by a gear 96 meshing therewith and mounted upon the shaft carrying; the sprocket 19, most clearly represented in Figure 1.

The proportions of the gears or other suitable driving; means are desirably such as to drive the belt or apron 80 at a speed just su'flicient to convey away the crackers 56 or the like from the spirals 64. Desirably the belt or apron 80 travels at a somewhat faster speed than the belt or apron 33, though our invention is not limited in this respect.

Inasmuch as it is desirable to drive the belt or apron 86 at a speed just sufficient to convey away the crackers 50 from the spirals 64, it is desirable to provide means for varying the speed of travel of said belt or apron since under varying conditions. as, for example. the thickness of the crackers or other articles, the speed of said belt or apron should be changed. Desirably also means should be provided whereby the change in the speed may be readily effected manually.

While for this purpose any suitable means may be employed. we have, in Figs. 17 and 1.8, represented means by which very satisfactory results have been secured. Referring; to said figures, we have represented at 97 a ratchet which may be mounted upon any suitable part of the mechanism, as, for etample. directly upon the shaft carrying the roll 88. Loose upon the axis 98 of said shaft is pivoted a lever 99. the opposite ends whereof are pivoted at 100, 101 to pawls 102, 103 adapted to engage the teeth 10% of the ratchet and to rotate the same substantially continuously in one direction. In order to impart a variable rocking movement to the lever 99, we preferably provide links 105, 106 pivotally connected at 100, 101 to said lever 99. and at their other ends pivotally connected at 107 to a nut 108 upon a screw 109 suitably mounted in a lever 11.0 having a longitudinal slot 111 receiving: said screw and permitting longitudinal adjustotare received in a curve The construction is ment therealong of said nut 108. The unthreaded parts of said screw are received at 112,113411 the lever 110, and said nutis provided with a knurled head 114 permittingready rotation of said screw with consequent adjustment of the nut 108 along the slot 111. bviouslythe throw of the links 105', 106 and their pawls 102, 103 .is Increased by adjusting the nut 108 outward from the pivot lever 110. i

it Anysuitable means may be provided to rock the lever 110. F or this purpose we have represented said lever as pivotedupon stud 115 having rigid therewith a short lever arm 116 to which at 117 is pivotally connected a link 118 driven from any suit able source. F or this purpose we have represented the link 118 as carrying an eccentrio strap 119 receiving an eccentric "120 anfdmheld in suitable relation thereto by pointed pins121, 122, theinner ends where- 123 upon the periphery of the eccentric. i

i The eccentric 120 may be mounted at any desired point asvstated, and if desired upon theshaft 48, most clearly represented in Fig. 1 and at either side of themechanism.

such as to impart a substantially continuous motion of rotationto the roll 88, there being at the most an ex-:

ceedingly slight dwell at the end of the throw of; each of the pawls 102, 103.

We have described that embodiment of our invention that is peculiarly adapted to thestacking of food products, but the invention is not limited thereto, and maybe used to stack relatively have two opposite flat or substantially flat faces. As other examples, of. articles that maybe stacked by the invention, We may mention lozengeapaper ships, metal money and other discs.

. in the claims we have employed the term, disc-hire, as a broad term intended to cover.

articles ofthe general shape indicated Having thus disclosed one illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of our invention and having described the best mode lmovm to. us for practicing our invention, we desire it to beunderstood that. although specific terms are employed they are used 111 ,ageneric and descrnptive sense and not for purpose of limitation, thescope of the. invention being set forth in the following claims. 1

Claims- Mechanism for conveying and stacking dislnlike articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the nonesegregated mass of articles, adownwardly directed guide for the articles having a backing, means to press thearticles directly flatwise and substantially vertically against the upright part of said backing, said means adapted to be moved by thearticles in passing the same,

thin. articles which tending flapper-s pivoted and a stacking member the articles from said guide.

.2. Mechanisnifor conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, aconveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a downwardly directed guide for the articles to direct the articles edgewise downward, a freely movable member adapted to engage the articles when in their downward descent and by itsmovement to pressthe articles momentarily and individually against said guide and to be moved by the articles themselves to permit passage of said articles, and a stacking member proper receiving the articles from said guide, for the purpose set forth.

3. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a guide down which the articles are adapted to pass substantially vertically and edgewise, a freely movable member adapted to engage the surface of the articles while in their substantially vertical edgewise descent, and to position the same momentarilyagainst said guide in edgewise vertical position andto be' moved by the articles then'iselves to permit passage of said articles, and. a stacking member proper receiving the articles from said guide, for the purpose set forth. i rt. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor forthe non-segregated mass of articles, a downwardlydirected guide for the vertical edgewisedescent of the articles, a movable flapper adapted to engage the face of; the articles in their downward edgewise descent and press the same directly against the guide in substantially vertical position and adapted to be moved by the articles, and a stacking member proper re= ceiving the articles from said guide.

5.Mechanism' for conveying and stacking disc like articles comprising in combination,

non-segregated mass of articles, a series of chutes, downwardly extransversely ofthe chutes to constitute the front walls thereof, andadaptectto press each article individually against wall of said chute and to be moved by said articles, and means to feed the articles edgewise from. the lower ends of the chutes.

7. Mechanism for conveying and stacking proper receiving.

in holding the articles comprising in combination,

disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non segregated mass of articles, a series of downwardly extending substantially upright chutes, flappers mounted on pivots that are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chutes and adapted to press the articles flatwise against the back of said chutes and to be moved by said articles, andmeans to feed the articles from the lower ends of the chutes.

8. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a downwardly directed substantially upright guide for the substantially vertical, downward, edgewise descent of the articles, one or more movable flappers adapted to engage a face of said articles while in such downward descent and to press the articles against a wall of said guide and to be moved by said articles, and a stacking member proper receiving the articles from said guide.

9. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a series of downwardly directed chutes and freely movable members to engage faces of the articles as they descend the chutes and acting to press the same one after another against the back of said chute to cause said articles to descend the chutes ed gewise and adapted because of their freely movable character to be moved by the articles themselves to permit passage of said articles.

10. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a downwardly directed guide for the articles having a backing, flapper-like members adapted by gravity to press the articles directly flatwise and substantially vertically against the said backing, and a stacking member proper receiving the artioles from'said guide.

11. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a downwardly directed guide'for the articles having a stepped backing, means to press the articles directly flatwise and substantially vertically against the upright parts of said backing, and a stacking mem ber proper receiving the articles from said guide.

12. Mechanism for conveying and stack ing disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor-for the non-se ;regated mass of articles, a downwardly directed guide for the articles along which they are adapted to pass'edgewise and substantially vertically, flapper-like members freely mounted to check by their weight said edgewise, substantially vertical descent, and a stacking member proper receiving the ar ticles from said guide.

13. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a substantially vertically downwardly directed guide for the articles, pivoted flappers adapted to rock by gravity upon their pivots and to engage the articles during their descent, and thereby press them fiatwise against said guide, and a stacking mcmber proper receiving the articles from said guide.

14. Mechanism for conveying and stacking-disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a substantially vertically downwardly extending chute having a yielding wall adapted to be moved in one direction by gravity to press the articles substantially vertically against the chute and in the opposite direction by the articles, composed of a series of movable parts.

15. Mechanism for conveying and stack ing disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a substantially vertically a downwardly extending chute having a yielding wall composed of a series of freely movable parts adapted because of their freely movable character to press the articles substantially upright against the chute, and means to move the articles edgewise away from the lower end of the chutes in a direction transverse to the axis of said chutes.

16. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a series of chutes each having a wall composed of a series of fianpers freely mounted one above another to engage the faces of the articles and adapted because of their freely mounted character to be moved by the articles themselves to permit the passage of said articles.

17. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a chute having a. backing composed of upright parts, one or more intermediate, forwardly inclined parts. and

a front face cooperating with the backing to position the articles fiatwise against the backing.

18. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a chute having a backing composed of upright parts, forwardly inclined, intermediate parts and cooperating flappers mounted transversely of said chutes.

19. Meclninism for conveying and stacking disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a chute having a forwardly i the articles in under the influence oi":

descent or fall of the stepped backing, and a flapper to engage artlcles against the upright part of each step so as to break the fall or descent oit'the articles. i

20. Mechanism for conveying),' and staclc ing disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor tor the non-segregated mass of articles, a chute having a cross piece and a series of flappcrs to cooperate with the articles descending; said chute and so bent at oneend to form a loop by which it may be hung upon said cross piece with capacity forready removal.

21. Mechanism for conveying and staclc ing disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor tor thenon-segregated mass of articles, a chute, and series of flappers at one face of the chute positioned at" successively lower points and mounted for movement by gravity and by the weight of the articles, the lowermost flapper being weighted to oppose more resistance to the articles.

22. Mechanism for conveying; and staclzing disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, a chute, and a series of flappers one above another, and cooperating with the chute in causing the articles to descend the chute edgewise and mounted for movement by gravity and by the weight of the articles, presenting greater resistance to the, descent of the articles.

23pMechanisn1 for conveying and stacln;

inp; disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregatec mass of articles, and a series of chutes composedof a rear wall and partitions which are alternately of greater and lesser height to prevent wed ing, clogging or binding of their descent.

24c. Mechanism for conveying; and staclc inn disc-like articlesconiprising in combination, a conveyor forthe i1onscgregatesl mass of articles, and a chute composed oi: a

backing and a series of transversely arranged partitionsoi. varyinc'iheight, and yielding members between said partitions andconstitutinga yielding front face for said chute. i

25. Mechanism for convey; and stacking disc-like articles comprisin, in combination, a conveyor for the non segregated mass of articles, a substantially verticall upright chute For the artic meai'is acting and yielding to the weight oi said articles to maintain the articles upright in said chute by yieldingly pressing them against an upright wall at said chute, means to receive the articles edgewise from thebottom of the chute and to feed the same in stacked relation, a conveyor to deliver filled pans or trays into position to have their contents discharged onto downi thelower one of said lldppflrfi the first mentioned conveyor, and a return conveyor for the empty pans or trays.

26. lvlechanism for conveying and stacking dielr-lih'e articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass oi articles, a substantially vertically lly directed guide for the articles, itlapper; acting under ity to engage the articles while passing snl stantially vertically downward edgewise along said guide and to press them in such condition against a wall of said guide, and a stacking member proper receiving the articles lroin said guide.

537. In a mechanism for conveying and stacking disc-lil tc articles, a series of staclc ing spirals, each having a basal portion receiving the base of the spiral, and one or more protruding pins, and a driven shaft liavinoa head or disk provided with oneor more holes to receive said pins.

lilccl anism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated .i a 'ticles, a downwardly directed die for the articles having a stepped back ing, a series otflappers one above the other and ad ted to engage the face of the arti cles am o press the same against said back and a taciting ineinliier proper receiving;- the articles from said guide.

20. lvlcchanism for conveying and staclring: lisc-lilm articles comprising in combi in, an upwardl traveling belt or our eyor having immediately ensuing, substair tially vertical descent, substantially var-- tica l-v downwar v dfiected guide at said t of substantially vertical descent, a plutv oi? .tl' 'pcr-lilre gravity actuated ineniyield ble to the weight of saiil articles sively to engage said articles passing ide and to press hem against a wall oi saul guide while descendingvertically edp ew ise, an d a stackin member proper rccoiiing the articles From said guide.

n a ism tor convcvinp and 'ticles, a stacking: spiral, ircled by the spiral, 1oin means :tor the spiral, and men. e de- "tachalz-ly to secure said basal portion to said rotating means.

El llillflflldllll-Jlll for conveying and stacklisc-lihe articles comprisinnin con 1-), a conveyor for th ionsegrcrrated mass of articles, a substant tllyvertically downwardly directed ,e le tor the articles having a series of forwardly dire led up right partitions between which the articles are received, and means movable by said articles and by gravity to present each of the articles edgewise and vertically against a wall of said guide thereby preventingclogging or wed ing oi. the articles at the top of said partitions.

32. Mechanism for conveying and stackthe influence of graving disc-likearticles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a series of chutes C0111" posed of a backing, torwardly extencing transverse partitions of less height than said backing, and one or more movable members between adjacent partitions, the parts being constructed and arranged to present the articles vertically downward, edgewise, to and between said part-i ions, whereby the articles drop between the partitions without clogging.

illechanism for conveying and stac ing disc-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a series of chutes composed of be. hi" forwardly extending; transverse partitions of lss height than said backing, and one or more movable members between adjacent partitions, the parts being constructed and arranged to present the articles vertically downward, edgewise, to and between said partitions whereby the articles drop between the partitions without clogging, and a series of conveyors at the base of the chute to which the articles are presented edgewise, to be fed in stacks in such position.

34. In a mechanism for conveying and stacking dislc ilre articles, a stacking spiral, a basal portion to which the spiral is attached, rotating means for the spiral, and means detachably to secure said basal por' tion to said securing means.

35. ll lechanism for conveying; and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a series of chutes composed of a backing, upwardly extending, transverse partitions of less height than said backing, and one or more movable members between adjacent partitions and adapted to engage a face of the articles during their downward edgewise descent, the parts being constructed and arranged to present the articles vertically downward edgewise to and between said partitions, whereby the articles drop between the partitions without clogging.

36. Mechanism for conveying and stacking disk-like articles comprising in combination, a conveyor for the non-segregated mass of articles, and a series of chutes composed of a backing, forwardly extending, transverse partitions of less height than said backing, and one or more pivoted fiappers between adjacent partitions and adapted yieldingly to engage the exposed lace of the articles in their descent, the parts being constructed and arranged to present the artieles vertically downward edgowise to and between said partitions, whereby the articles stacking disc-lili'e articles, in combination, a conveyor "for the mass oi articles inchuling means to spread out the articles, a sul stantially vertially downwardly directed chute tor the articles, means to deliver the articles G(.:? 'QWlSG down the chute including a of swingable members normally c tending into the path of the edgewise de- -ccn-iiingr articles and yieldable to the weight of the same whereby said articles are mementarily yiel dinnly held agai nst an upright wall of said chute during; their descent and a stacl zing device proper including: a member directly receivingthe articles at the bottom of the chute, a forwardly traveling; belt rccciving' the articles from said membe and a plurality of forwardly OXtCllCllDSl fixed partitio. above said belt and providing a channel or channels tor the articles in upstanding; ed ewise position.

33. Mechanism lOI conveying: and StllCK- inn disk-like articles comprising); in comlgiination, a conveyor for the min-segregated mass of articles, a downwardly directed guide for the articles to direct the same edgrewise downwardly, and a flapper co-zu-tii with a wall of said guide to position the articles individually and vertically against said wall. said flapper beingr movable by said articles to pass the same in vertical position.

39. lllechanisni torconveying: and stackinn; disk-like articles comprising in coinbination. a conveyor tor the non-segregated mass of articles. a dowlnwardly directed guide for the articles to direct the same ed n wise downwardly. and aflapper IUOfllJlQ under the influence of gravity in one direction and under the weight oi the articles in the opposite direction. and adapted to press said articlesindividually and verticall v against a wall of said guide.

In testimony whereof. we have signed our names to this specification.

EDWARD E. llANRENPE, KENNETH D. LOOSE.

lOh

Certificate of Eorrection.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1333,511 granted October 2A, 1922 upon the application of Edward E. Lawrence, of Jamaica, and Kenneth D. Loose, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Mechanism for Conveying and Stacking Food Products, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 6, line 88, claim 14, strike out the Words composed of a series of movable parts and insert the same to follow the Word Wall line-8 L, and line 87, after the word articles strike out the comma; same page, line 92, claim 15, strike out the article a second occurrence, and line 106, claim 16, strike out the Words freely mounted, and insert the same before the Word fiappers in line 105; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of November, A. 1)., 1922.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

